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Barrow man avoids prison for street attack

A Barrow man avoided jail yesterday for attacking a 19-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy in the street.

Mark McAlinden

Mark McAlinden, of Chester Street, Barrow, appeared at Furness Magistrates’ Court yesterday to be sentenced for two counts of assault.

The court was told that on March 11, at about 8.30pm, McAlinden approached a group of people in Dalton Road. Mrs Lesley Duhig, prosecuting, said: “The victims described a man they didn’t know approaching them. He was being aggressive and looking for a fight.

“He then made to shake the first man’s hand, but instead punched him in the face with enough force to knock him to the ground.”

McAlinden proceeded to do the same thing to another member of the group.

While the second victim got up off the floor and began collecting his possessions, he was mocked by McAlinden.

No members of the group retaliated to the attack, but called the police, who came and arrested McAlinden at the scene.

It was revealed later that McAlinden had spent all afternoon in a pub, where he had consumed 15 pints of lager.

He claims not to remember the period between the pub and being at the police station.

Mr Andrew Gibson, defending, said: “What I’m told by my client is that he’s 36 and too old for prison and wants to sort himself out.

“He needs to turn over a new leaf.”

McAlinden was given two 16-week consecutive sentences suspended for 12 months on the condition that he completes 180 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £85 in legal costs and a £80 victim surcharge.